Artist's Statement:

I specialize in painting marine life in watercolor using my own photographs and memories. I scuba dive and take underwater photos, which I use as subject matter for my paintings. Being a nature lover in general, I also paint flowers, gardens, animals and a few landscapes as well. I have been painting primarily in watercolor for over 30 years, but I also occasionally work in oils and acrylics.

To see below the ocean's surface and witness the beauty of life on a coral reef is something not everyone is able to experience, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity. The world's coral reefs are in trouble and they might be gone someday if we don't take care of our oceans. Through my paintings and photographs, I want to show the beauty of coral reefs and their inhabitants to the world in hope that they will be protected and preserved for future generations.

Biography:

I grew up on the Texas coast, I spent a lot of time at the beach and fishing with my Dad, and grew to love the ocean and seashore. I graduated in 1972 from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Art. In 1973, I moved to Austin, and took a job with the State of Texas, where I received training in cartography (mapmaking). I spend the next 15 years drawing maps, and another 15 years in management and sales of digital maps and software (geographic information systems). In early 2015, my husband and I relocated to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, where I am realizing my dream of living where my inspiration comes from.

During my years as a graphic designer and cartographer, I spent my time on weekends painting watercolors, and joined Austin's Waterloo Watercolor Group. My work earned several awards at the Group's annual exhibitions, and traveled to national shows, including the National Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, and the American Realism Exhibition.

In 1983, I married Julian "Kent" Jacobson, and we spent our honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico where I had my first opportunity to snorkel and observe the colorful marine life of a tropical coral reef. I fell in love with the ocean all over again, and Kent and I began to travel to tropical places every chance we got. We received our scuba certification in 1994, and I immediately began photographing marine life.

I have taken thousands of photos of marine life which provide endless inspiration for my paintings. I have had both my underwater and topside images published in travel guides, calendars, brochures, and as fine art prints in both corporate and private collections. I have created two websites for my photography: www.cdislands.com (35mm film photography) and www.tropicalpictures.net (35mm film and digital photography).

Kent and I continue to travel to dive destinations around the world to observe and photograph marine life, and a percentage of my sales are donated to coral reef conservation organizations.

I also create and market ocean inspired fine handmade jewelry. Visit my jewelry website at http://coralreefdreams.com.

All works on this web site © Pauline Walsh Jacobson. All rights reserved worldwide, unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.